…Motorists, Residents Cry Out As Darkness Fuels Traffic Robbery, Petty Crimes

…127 Suspected Traffic Robbers Arrested In Three Months- Lagos CP

Six months after the Lagos State Government promised to deliver on Smart LED Streetlights, major parts of the State metropolis, especially highways remain in darkness.

Recall that in January 2021, the State’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Eng. Olalere Odusote revealed that it had concluded arrangements to execute a Streetlight Infrastructure Agreement with LEDCo Limited for the retrofit of existing conventional High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlight installations across the State to Smart Light Emitting Diode (“Smart LED”) lights under what he tagged as ‘Streetlight Retrofit Project.’

The commissioner had also disclosed that the full implementation of the Streetlight Retrofit Project will span six months with an estimated project completion timeline of June 2021.

According to him, the project will be implemented under the close supervision and management of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, through the Lagos State Electricity Board.

But checks by Thepledge as at July 8, shows that except for Airport Road and the Motorways end of the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, major roads in the state are still without functional street lights.

This development, residents and motorists say have aided accidents, surge in crime, especially traffic robbery in several parts of the state with many persons falling victim.

A top official in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources told Thepledge that the project only kicked off two months ago (May) and was flagged off from the Island assuring that by July it will get to the mainland.

“if you recall during the ministerial briefing last month, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources said that the street light project has commenced and that by July ending, the streets of Lagos will be lit.

“Right now the project is in progress and at Lekki-Epe Toll Gate, it is already 80 percent completion. But for the rains, it should have been completed. From Lekki the project will move to the Island before it gets to the mainland.

On why the project only took off in May rather than in January, the official said, “Well, the project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and it will involve perfecting some paper works and this could take some time to achieve, coupled with a few unforeseen and unplanned challenges.”

But while Lagosians wait for the street lamps to come on, they will have to contend with the incidence of traffic robbery fast gaining ground.

Thepledge findings shows that some dark spots in the metropolis include Eko bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Oshodi, Mile 2, Ketu, Abule Egba, Long Bridge, among many others.

Some motorists who spoke with our correspondent said that driving in traffic has become their worst nightmare due to the nefarious activities of hoodlums, traffic robbers who take advantage of gridlock to smash windows and rob driver and passengers of their valuable.

Tony Adekanye told Thepledge, “These days once you find yourself in traffic, regardless of whether it is daytime or night, your heart starts racing because you just get this feeling that these boys can come out of nowhere and harass you, collect your valuables and walk away freely like it’s a normal thing.”

Memunat Salau who recently witnessed an incident said the trauma is one that has remained fresh in her mind especially while driving at night.

“I used to think that Lagos was safe, but the past few months has been hell especially at night. I witnessed an incident at Ketu last two weeks and it felt like a movie. Three boys who look like they are in their early 20s came out from nowhere and started harassing private cars. They usually know who their target is. After that incident, once I encounter traffic at night, I hide my phone under my seat and just say a silent prayer hoping that these bad boys will not spring up from nowhere to start their operation,” Mrs Salau said.

In April, the US Consulate in Lagos had raised the alarm on the increase in crime in Lagos, particularly noting that incidents of robberies, smash and grabs by armed men had increased significantly in both Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

Explaining how they operate, the statement from the Consulate office read, “Typically, men on a Motorcycle will follow a vehicle until it stops at a traffic light or intersection then approach the vehicle, present a weapon, and rob the occupants.

“Although most of these incidents happen at night, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has received reports of robberies taking place during daylight hours.”

While giving tips on preventing falling victim of such incident, the U.S. Consulate General however cautioned residents on engaging in night travel across that axis especially after 10pm.

But the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has again reassured Lagosians that traffic robbery will soon fizzle out and become history in as the State Police Command has deployed its human and material resources to tackle the menace headlong.

Odumosu, a fortnight ago, confirmed the arrest of not less than 127 suspected traffic robbers at various locations within Lagos State from March, 2021 till date.

He said the command has been fighting robbery in traffic relentlessly, even before the recent donation of crime fighting equipment and communication gadgets to the command by the Lagos State Government; and the fight against the menace will be intensified and more effective with the new equipment.

Similarly, the Police boss has ordered continuous combat training, musketry and range practice for Police personnel in the command as the command also commenced the training of the police operatives attached to the newly formed Anti Traffic Robbery Squad to tackle the menace of robbery in traffic in Lagos State.